Building Trust: NetSuite’s Approach to AI in a Glass Box

Unveiling NetSuite Next: A Landmark Product Evolution

Article presented by Oracle NetSuite

When a company declares a product release as its most significant in nearly thirty years, it demands attention. Especially when the proclamation comes from the founder of the world’s first cloud computing company. At SuiteWorld 2025, Evan Goldberg, Oracle NetSuite’s founder and EVP, introduced NetSuite Next as the company’s most substantial product evolution in decades. Beneath this grand vision lies a fundamental shift focused on the behavior of AI, not just its capabilities.

Brian Chess, NetSuite’s SVP of Technology and AI, notes, “Every company is delving into AI, with some ideas hitting the mark while others miss. Each experiment contributes to our collective knowledge, driving innovation forward.”

For Chess and Gary Wiessinger, NetSuite’s SVP of Application Development, the key challenge lies in the responsible governance of AI. Rather than overhauling the system, NetSuite extends its core principles of security, control, and auditability into the realm of AI. The objective is to ensure traceability of AI actions, enforceable permissions, and auditable outcomes.

Rooted in Oracle’s Infrastructure

NetSuite Next is the culmination of five years of development, leveraging Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), a platform trusted by major AI model providers worldwide. AI capabilities are seamlessly integrated into the core of NetSuite Next, rather than being tacked on as an afterthought.

“Our robust foundation on OCI goes beyond mere computing power,” Chess explains.

Aligned with NetSuite’s customer-centric philosophy, Wiessinger emphasizes, “Our approach prioritizes customer needs over technology, ensuring that the latest technological advancements serve to enhance user experience.”

The Power of Structured Data

NetSuite’s platform thrives on a structured data model, offering a significant advantage. Chess elaborates, “NetSuite’s data structure enables the AI to explore the knowledge graph systematically, drawing insights from interconnected data points.”

Unlike conventional Language Models, NetSuite’s AI operates on structured data, facilitating precise correlations between transactions, accounts, and workflows to deliver context-aware intelligence.

Wiessinger underscores, “Our data spans various domains, enabling us to provide comprehensive solutions by consolidating disparate aspects of a business under one roof.”

Enhanced by inherent business logic and metadata, NetSuite can generate accurate and explainable recommendations and insights.

Embracing Transparency for Accountability

Unlike many enterprise AI systems functioning as black boxes, NetSuite prioritizes transparency, making visibility a core feature of its AI operations.

Chess emphasizes, “Transparency serves as a crucial educational tool, enabling organizations to comprehend, refine, and trust automation processes over time.”

NetSuite’s commitment to traceability ensures that users can understand the rationale behind AI-driven decisions, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Robust Governance and Auditing

AI agents within NetSuite Next adhere to a governance model mirroring that of human employees, with role-based security integrated into workflows to enforce authorized boundaries.

Wiessinger clarifies, “While AI-generated narratives may undergo iterative enhancements based on user feedback, critical operations like financial transactions necessitate stringent controls and human oversight.”

NetSuite extends its auditing practices to AI, recording every action, workflow adjustment, and code snippet generated by the models within the existing audit framework.

Chess illustrates, “Code generated by AI is auditable, allowing teams to trace back the decision-making process and ensuring transparency in every action.”

Empowering Safe Extensibility

NetSuite facilitates the extension of AI capabilities through the AI Connector Service and SuiteCloud Platform, ensuring data security while connecting external models using standards like the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

“Businesses seek to leverage AI effectively while safeguarding against potential data breaches. NetSuite’s AI Connector Service and governance framework empower partners to innovate securely within a controlled environment,” Chess states.

Cultivating a Culture of Experimentation and Oversight

NetSuite advocates for a balanced approach to AI adoption, encouraging both top-down strategic initiatives and bottom-up grassroots experimentation.

Wiessinger highlights the importance of structured experimentation, stating, “Organizations should proactively test AI applications, learn iteratively, and align innovations with their business objectives.”

Embracing Transparent AI for Sustainable Growth

Amidst the proliferation of AI in enterprise landscapes, governance emerges as a critical differentiator alongside innovation. NetSuite’s commitment to transparency and accountability, underpinned by Oracle’s secure infrastructure and structured data framework, positions it as a leader in the evolving AI landscape.

As opaque models and unsubstantiated claims proliferate, the true winners will be those who prioritize trust and transparency in their AI solutions.

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